Vol. 573 No. 2
162 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in processing an application for Garda identification for young people; the total number of applications to date in 2003 and in 2002; the number of staff employed in this section; the number of computers used by the gardaí in the section to produce the identification; the action he is taking to reduce the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24677/03]
At present application forms and fees are submitted at local Garda stations. The forms are then forwarded to the Garda national age card office, where details are recorded and the forms processed. The turnabout time in the age card office is approximately five working days. The form is then forwarded to a private company which produces the cards and posts them to the applicants. The turnaround time at the production company is also approximately five working days. Allowing for processing at local stations and posting, the entire process takes between three to four weeks.
The success of the national age card scheme is evidenced by the fact that this year 42,699 applications were made up to 30 September. This compares with 39,600 during the whole of 2002. Two civilian employees, with one sergeant, work full time in the national age card office receiving and processing applications. One computer is used to input and store the data, but as I mentioned earlier, the actual production of the card is out-sourced I am assured by the Garda authorities that the process is constantly assessed and monitored with a view to reduction of delivery time and meeting increasing demand.
